Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has surprisingly admitted he would be open to fighting legend Oscar De La Hoya.
Matchroom Boxing chief Hearn and boxer-turned-promoter De La Hoya have been at each other throats for several years, ever since the former entered the US market and began building a stable of fighters.
De La Hoya has launched several furious tirades at Hearn’s promotional skills, but the pair have always been relatively civil when meeting at events including at Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia earlier this year.
However, tensions may now ramp up, as Hearn has suggested he’d stunningly be open to a boxing fight after being called out by the legend, who won 11 world title belts in six weight classes during his frightening prime.
Hearn has acknowledged the experience gaps are vast, but would be willing to take on the former pound-for-pound great, only if Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh made it worth his while financially.
“Listen, if Turki Alalshikh wants to get his chequebook out, I will f***ing stick the gloves on, no doubt about it,” he said during an interview on The Stomping Ground.
“But we’re talking double digit millions. I’ve got a massive, massive size advantage over Oscar.
“The slight problem is he was one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of all time, so I am slightly up against it.
“But I will get my head punched in for the right price.”
Hearn has extremely limited experience in the ring, but has recalled having a series of amateur fights before turning to promoting with Matchroom Boxing.
He has sparred and dropped Matchroom CEO Frank Smith, showing a glimpse of what ability he has with the gloves on.
The contrast unfortunately for Hearn would be that De La Hoya has shared the ring with the likes of Floyd Mayweather Junior and Manny Pacquiao.
‘Golden Boy’ had been set to make a return against Vitor Belfort in 2021, but was hospitalised by coronavirus and his plans were foiled.
Like Hearn though, he could be tempted back into the ring, in a fight that would likely generate huge interest given their respective statuses in boxing.
Their latest feud has come after the pair discussed a 5 vs 5 boxing card between their stables, which was initially proposed by Hearn.
De La Hoya responded in a new rant, making his own line-up.
He said: “There have been rumors that my company may do a five on five against Matchroom Sports, which is run by my buddy Eddie Hearn.
“We all know Eddie has the worst record as a promoter and his fighters aren’t the cream of the crop, but I’m always up for giving the fans a good night of fights.
“Under one condition — the fights will be contested in a tiny ring so nobody can run [Jaron Ennis and Shakur Stevenson].
“And since we have the best matchmaking in Golden Boy, these are the fights that I propose: Vergil Ortiz vs Boots [Jaron Ennis], Jaime Munguia vs Diego Pacheco, Jose Zepeda vs Shakur Stevenson, Oscar Duarte vs Devin Haney, and the winner of Jose Ramirez vs Arnold Barboza will take on Jack Catterall.
“Hell, let’s even make it a six on six with me and you, Eddie, in the main event.
“I see you been taking box aerobic classes, so let’s give the fight fans what they really want to see, me kicking your ass.”
Hearn has since responded agreeing to the line-up, with Saudi chief Alalshikh likely to needing to be responsible for bringing such a card together.
